U.S. patent number 5,680,496 [Application Number 08/731,408] was granted by the patent office on 1997-10-21 for fiber optic cable assembly for perimeter lighting.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Garrett J. Burkitt, III, Dennis C. Dunn, Kevin L. Potucek.
United States Patent |
5,680,496 |
Burkitt, III , et
al. |
October 21, 1997 |
Fiber optic cable assembly for perimeter lighting
Abstract
The fiber optic cable assembly mounts to a perimeter surface of
a swimming pool or a spa to provide lighting around the perimeter
of the swimming pool or spa. The fiber optic cable assembly
includes a bundle of fiber optic fibers, a tube, a track, and a
plurality of fasteners. The front surface of the track and the rear
surface of the tube cooperatively define a chamber between the
track and the tube to eliminate interference between the fasteners
and the tube such that the tube is uniformly received in the track.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a track with a rear
surface that defines a reservoir. The reservoir advantageously
collects excess adhesive used in the mounting process of the track
to prevent unsightly and difficult to remove excess adhesive from
building up around the track.
Inventors: |
Burkitt, III; Garrett J. (Simi
Valley, CA), Dunn; Dennis C. (Thousand Oaks, CA),
Potucek; Kevin L. (Simi Valley, CA) |
Assignee: |
American Products, Inc.
(Moorpark, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
24939369 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/731,408 |
Filed: |
October 18, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/100; 362/36;
385/901; 385/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/001 (20130101); Y10S 385/901 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
8/00 (20060101); G02B 006/44 () |
Field of
Search: |
;385/115,116,100,102,901
;362/32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ngo; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pretty, Schroeder &
Poplawski
Claims
We claim:
1. A fiber optic cable assembly for mounting to a perimeter surface
of a swimming pool or a spa to provide lighting around the
perimeter of the swimming pool or spa, comprising:
a tube having a front surface and a rear surface;
a bundle of fiber optic fibers contained within the tube;
a longitudinal track having a front surface;
a plurality of fasteners engaging the front surface of the track to
fasten the track to the perimeter surface;
means for securing the tube to the track such that the rear surface
of the tube faces the front surface of the track; and
wherein the front surface of the track and the rear surface of the
tube cooperatively define a chamber between the track and the tube
when secured together to receive the fasteners and eliminate
interference between the fasteners and the tube when the assembly
is mounted to the perimeter surface.
2. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear
surface of the tube has first and second longitudinally extending
edges and the front surface of the track defines two longitudinally
extending edge flanges sized to accept the edges of the rear
surface therein to secure the tube to the track.
3. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the front
surface of the tube is curved.
4. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear
surface of the tube defines a longitudinally extending depression
to cooperate with the front surface of the track to define the
chamber.
5. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 4, wherein the front
surface of the track also defines a longitudinally extending recess
for cooperation with the rear surface of the tube to define the
chamber.
6. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the front
surface of the track defines a longitudinally extending recess for
cooperation with the rear surface of the tube to define the
chamber.
7. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the fasteners
are screws.
8. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the front
surface of the track also defines a longitudinally extending notch
located in the center of the front surface of the track for
positioning of the fasteners in the center of the track.
9. A fiber optic cable assembly for mounting by adhesive to a
perimeter surface of a swimming pool or a spa to provide lighting
around the perimeter of the swimming pool or spa, comprising:
a tube having a front surface and a rear surface;
a bundle of fiber optic fibers contained within the tube; and
a longitudinal track having a front surface and a rear surface, the
front surface including means for receiving the tube to position
the rear surface of the tube in opposed alignment with the front
surface of the track, the rear surface of the track defining at
least one longitudinally extending reservoir sized to retain excess
adhesive therein such that the adhesive does not squeeze out from
behind the track when the track is mounted on the perimeter surface
of the pool.
10. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the rear
surface of the track defines two longitudinally extending
reservoirs.
11. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the rear
surface of the track has an upper edge and a lower edge and the two
longitudinally extending reservoirs are recesses, one such recess
located adjacent to the upper edge of the rear surface of the track
and the other located adjacent to the lower edge of the track.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to lighting for swimming pools and
spas, and, more particularly, to fiber optic cable assemblies that
are mounted along the perimeter of swimming pools or spas.
Submersible electric lights for the illumination of swimming pools
and spas have become well known over the years. More recently, it
has become popular to use fiber optic cables in swimming pool
lighting systems. In one particular application, a bundle of fiber
optic fibers is placed inside of a transparent flexible plastic
tube mounted on a track located above the waterline around the edge
of a swimming pool. When one or both ends of the fiber optic bundle
is exposed to a light source, the entire length of the bundle
glows, thereby creating an attractive low-level neon-type lighting
effect around the perimeter of the swimming pool. This effect is
known as "side out" lighting or "side out" illumination and is
caused by the imperfections inherent in each fiber. In particular,
these imperfections cause some light to escape from the cylindrical
side surface of each fiber as light travels from one end of the
fiber to the other.
One particular problem associated with some conventional tube and
track assemblies used for side out fiber optic illumination is that
they are labor intensive, are difficult to install, have limited
durability and can have a poor quality appearance. In particular,
one such assembly includes a track that is mounted to a swimming
pool perimeter surface by mounting screws and silicone adhesive.
The mounting screws are driven through the track at longitudinally
spaced locations to attach the track to the perimeter surface of
the swimming pool. Because the plastic tube mates with the track,
the tube has a flat rear surface with opposing edges that snap into
the track. The tube is sized to accept a bundle of fiber optic
fibers therein. The track has a U-shaped cross section and includes
retaining flanges on the top and bottom of the opposing walls of
the "U" so that the edges of the fiat rear surface of the plastic
tube can snap into and be held within the track.
One drawback associated with this fiber optic perimeter lighting
assembly is that the longitudinally-spaced screws must be manually
countersunk into the track so that the screw heads do not project
into the space inside the U-shaped track that normally is occupied
by the flat back of the plastic tube. In this regard, the perfect
installation of all of the countersunk screws holding the track
around the perimeter of the pool is difficult. The heads of a few
improperly countersunk screws can interfere with the rear surface
of the plastic tube, thereby causing the plastic tube not to fit
within the track at that location. In time, this failure to
completely mount the tube within the track can cause the tube to
become further dislodged from the track or become vulnerable to
further removal by children who use the pool. In addition such
interference can cause bright spots in the cable assembly that
detract from the overall uniform appearance of the lighting
effect.
Another drawback is associated with unattractive excess adhesive
residue that can be visible after the track has been installed.
When the track is pressed up against the wall around the perimeter
of a pool, excess silicone adhesive applied to the back of the
track can be squeezed out from behind the track. This silicon
adhesive residue is undesirable because it is rough, unsightly and
difficult to remove.
It should therefore be appreciated that there is a need for a side
out fiber optic perimeter lighting assembly that is easy to install
yet results in a quality installation where the tube fits uniformly
in the track and no unsightly excess adhesive is visible along the
track. The present invention fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a side out fiber optic perimeter
lighting assembly that is easy to install yet results in a quality
installation where the tube fits uniformly in the track and no
unsightly excess adhesive is visible along the track. The fiber
optic cable assembly can be mounted to a perimeter surface of a
swimming pool or a spa to provide lighting around the perimeter of
the swimming pool or spa.
The fiber optic cable assembly includes a bundle of fiber optic
fibers, a tube, a track, a plurality of fasteners and securing
means. The tube has a front surface and a rear surface. The bundle
of fiber optic fibers is contained within the tube. The track is
longitudinal in shape and has a front surface. The plurality of
fasteners engage the front surface of the track to fasten the track
to the perimeter surface. The invention also includes the means for
securing the tube to the track such that the rear surface of the
tube faces the front surface of the track and wherein the front
surface of the track surface of the tube cooperatively define a
chamber between the track and the tube when secured together to
receive the fasteners and eliminate interference between the
fasteners and the tube when the assembly is mounted to the
perimeter surface.
In a more detailed feature of the invention, the rear surface of
the tube has first and second longitudinally extending edges and
the front surface of the track defines two longitudinally extending
edge flanges. The edge flanges of the track are sized to accept the
edges of the rear surface of the tube therein to hold the tube
within the track. In yet another more detailed aspect of the
invention, the rear surface of the tube defines a longitudinally
extending depression and the front surface of the track defines a
longitudinally extending recess within the track.
The primary advantage associated with the invention is that an
internal space, or chamber is provided to eliminate interference
between the heads of the installation screws and the tube so that
the tube is uniformly received in the track, resulting in increased
ease of installation. This arrangement also provides for increased
durability and less of a likelihood that children will remove the
tube from the track and damage the lighting system. In addition,
because the tube is uniformly installed within the track, the
entire perimeter lighting system provides uniform light and has an
enhanced, high quality appearance.
In another feature of the invention, the rear surface of the track
defines at least one longitudinally extending reservoir sized to
retain excess adhesive therein such that the adhesive does not
squeeze out from behind the track when the track is mounted on the
perimeter surface of the pool. In a more detailed aspect of this
invention, the rear surface of the track defines two longitudinally
extending reservoirs. When the track is placed up against the
perimeter surface and the screws are tightened, any excess adhesive
is squeezed toward the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir
advantageously prevent the excess adhesive from escaping from under
the track to form rough, unsightly and difficult to remove residue
visible along the edges of the track.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of the
invention. In such drawings:
FIG. 1 is perspective view of a partially-installed preferred fiber
optic cable assembly according to the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the preferred fiber optic cable
assembly taken about line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, the present invention is preferably
embodied in a fiber optic cable assembly for lighting the perimeter
of a swimming pool, a spa or the like. The fiber optic cable
assembly is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10 and
includes a bundle of fiber optic fibers 12 held within a
transparent or translucent tube 14 configured to mount to a special
track 16 secured to the perimeter surface 18 of a pool, or other
surfaces desired to be illuminated, by screws 20 or other suitable
fasteners or adhesive. The preferred fiber optic cable assembly
advantageously provides an internal space, or chamber 22, to
eliminate interference between the heads of the installation screws
and the tube so that the tube is uniformly received in the track
without bulges or other deformaties at the locations of the screws.
In addition, the track has a rear surface 24 configured to retain
excess adhesive 26 behind the track to prevent the adhesive from
squeezing out from behind the track. Once it emerges from behind
the track, such excess adhesive is time consuming and difficult to
clean up. The aforementioned arrangement results in a perimeter
lighting system with increased durability, easier installation and
a quality appearance.
The bundle of fiber optic 12 is made up of individual fiber optic
fibers that provide for side out lighting, i.e., the fibers emit
some light along their length when a light source is exposed to one
or both of their ends. Large core polymer optic fiber ("Lcpof") or
polymethyl methacrylate ("pmma") fiber optic fibers can be used to
make up the bundle. As is well known in the art, one or both ends
of the bundle can be connected to a light source (not shown).
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube 14 has an internal longitudinal
passage 28 sized to accept the bundle of fiber optic fibers 12
therein. The tube has a curved or partially cylindrical front
surface 30 and a specially configured rear surface 32 that includes
two longitudinally extending edges 34. A rear surface of the tube
preferably defines a longitudinally-extending depression 36 located
between the longitudinally extending edge to form one of the walls
of the screw head receiving chamber. The tube can be made of
transparent or translucent flexible PVC plastic or other suitable
material. The tube holding the fiber optic bundle mounts within the
special track 16, which is described below.
The track 16 has an elongated longitudinal shape defined by a front
surface 38 and two longitudinally extending "L"-shaped flanges 40
extending outwardly from the front surface of the track. The
flanges are spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow the opposed
edges 34 of the tube 14 to fit therebetween. In particular, during
installation, the edges of the tube are flexed toward each other
and inserted between the flanges of the track. When the edges of
the tube are released, they assume their original shape and occupy
the space between the flanges on the track. This advantageously
results in the tube being secured to the track.
The front surface of the track is shaped to define a
longitudinally-extending central recess 42 with a small notch 44
running along the longitudinal centerline of the track. The recess
forms another wall of the screw head receiving chamber 22 such that
when the tube is inserted into the track (see FIG. 2), the recess
on the front surface of the track and the depression 36 on the rear
surface of the tube cooperate to accept the heads of screws 20
therein. The small notch advantageously allows the screws or a
drilling to easily be located and driven through the center of the
track during the installation process. The track can be made of
rigid PVC plastic or other material suitable for a particular
application.
Because the heads of the screws 20 fit within the aforementioned
chamber 22 between the tube 14 and the track 16, the preferred
fiber optic cable assembly 10 advantageously provides for easy
attachment of the track to the perimeter surface 18 of the pool
without the need to countersink the screws. Another related
advantage is that minor variations in the height of installed
screws have no effect upon the installation of the tube in the
track. Accordingly, the tube of the preferred assembly is easier to
install and the resulting installation is of high quality and
durability because the tube fits securely and uniformly within the
track along the entire perimeter of the pool.
As shown in FIG. 2, the specially configured rear surface 24 of the
track 16 prevents unsightly adhesive residue 26 from squeezing out
from behind the track during the installation process. In
particular, the rear surface of the track has a number of
longitudinal ridges 48 sandwiched between two longitudinal recesses
50 that act as reservoirs located above and below the ridges. The
ridges provide increased surface area for the track to bond with
the adhesive 26, which can be of the silicon based type or any
other suitable adhesive.
During the installation process, a bead of adhesive 26 is applied
to the ridges 48 on the rear surface 46 of the track 16. When the
track is placed up against the perimeter surface 18 and the screws
20 are tightened, any excess adhesive is squeezed downwardly and
upwardly away from the ridges and into the reservoirs 50. Thus, the
reservoirs advantageously prevent the excess adhesive from escaping
from under the track to form rough, unsightly and difficult to
remove residue visible along the edges of the track.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited,
except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *